5 Essential Kitchen Items

Check out this great article from one of my favorite blogs, Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest.

5 Indispensable Entertaining Items Built to Last

I may be biased, given that I do, in fact, have all of those items, but I think that is a great list. You can truly do a lot with each of those items. If you are new to entertaining or new to having your own kitchen, knowing what to buy can be a daunting task. Kitchen equipment can add up quickly, so you need to be selective about what you spend your money on.

My advice is to seek out as many of these five items as you can afford. Go for top quality. You might spend more, but in the end these pieces will last for your lifetime. When you're 80 years old and teaching your grandchildren to cook with the cast iron pan you've been using for 60 years, you will not regret these purchases. And don't forget about the holidays coming up! Parents love buying their young adult children practical gifts, especially if you make them a fabulous meal with your gifts.

The only comment I would add to the article is to point out that you should not only look for high quality, but also seek out multi-taskers. Le Creuset and other cast iron is great because it can be used on the stove top or in the oven. So that cast iron skillet can make your favorite stir fry or sauteed vegetable dish, and baked goods like corn bread and cakes. My salad bowl is also oven-safe (it's Pyrex), so I can serve cold dishes in it, but also stick it in the oven to warm up a side dish or bake a cobbler.

Thanks, Apartment Therapy, for such a great list!